Story byAndy VillamarzoThu, December 11, 2025 at 12:00 AM UTC·2 min readOn Wednesday evening, Nixa (Mo.) Five-Star Plus+ offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell was named the 2025 Gatorade Player of the Year. Cantwell was selected over Texas linebacker signee Tyler Atkinson (Grayson) and 2027 four-star running back Landen Williams-Callis (Randle), respectively. Making his way onto the list as a finalist for the second straight year was Cantwell, who has helped pave the way for over 5,500 yards of offense and 80-plus touchdowns this season. Nixa reached the MSHSAA Class 6 finals this past 2025 season. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“Big-framed offensive tackle with eye-popping athleticism and functional strength as a high school underclassman.